Geranium plant named ‘Fisbilred’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named ‘Fisbilred’, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized by the combined features of red, double, bell-shaped flowers, rich flowering with compact, round umbels, medium green, distinctly ivy-shaped foliage, and medium-tall, bushy and round plant habit.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Pelargonium peltatum L'Héritier ex Aiton.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Fisbilred’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of geranium,botanically known as Pelargonium peltatum, and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Fisbilred’.

‘Fisbilred’ is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new ivy geranium cultivars with double flowers incombination with moderately vigorous growth and in various differentcolors.

‘Fisbilred’ originated from a hybridization made by the inventorAngelika Utecht in a controlled breeding program in Galdar, GranCanaria, Spain, in 1995. The female parent was a hybrid seedling, No.361-3 (unpatented), having intense red, double flowers, medium greenfoliage without zonation, and medium tall plant habit. The male parentof ‘Fisbilred’ was a self-seedling from the commercial variety‘Gauguin’, synonym ‘Nanatte’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,360, which wascharacterized by light-red, semi-double to double flowers, medium greenfoliage with weak zonation, and vigorous growth.

‘Fisbilred’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny ofthe stated cross by Angelika Ultecht in a controlled environment inGaldar, Gran Canaria, Spain, in 1996. The first act of asexualreproduction of ‘Fisbilred’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttingswere taken from the initial selection in the fall of 1996 in acontrolled environment in Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain, by, or under thesupervision of, Angelika Utecht.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from these cuttings initiatedin the spring of 1997 in Hillscheid, Germany, and continuing thereafter,has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for ‘Fisbilred’ are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘Fisbilred’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describeplants grown in Hillscheid, Germany, and in Langley, British Columbia,Canada, under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generallyused in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘Fisbilred’, which in combinationdistinguish this geranium as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Red, many petaled, and rose-bud shaped flowers;

2. Numerous, relatively small, tight umbels;

3. Medium-green, distinctly lobed, and slightly zoned foliage;

4. Medium-sized, tight, round and well-branched plant habit; and

5. Early to medium spring flowering response.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, there isnone that is very close to ‘Fisbilred’, it could, however, partly becompared with ‘Fisbarock’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,367. In comparison to‘Fisbarock’, ‘Fisbilred’ has a brighter red flower color, partly whitecolored lower surface of petals, smaller and rose-bud shaped flowers,and more distinctly lobed foliage with weak zonation (‘Fisbarock’ hasalmost no zonation).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘Fisbilred’ with colors being as true as possiblewith illustrations of this type.

The photograph on sheet one depicts a typical plant of ‘Fisbilred’.

The photograph on sheet 2 depicts a close up view of typical flowers andleaves of ‘Fisbilred’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The measurements were taken in Langley, Canada, on Jul. 20, 2000. Theplants were growing in 6 inch pots in a greenhouse, and had had 15 weeksof cultivation time from the planting of rooted cuttings on Apr. 3,2000. The plants had not been pinched.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S). The color values weredetermined indoors from plants developed in a greenhouse in May 2000,Hillscheid, Germany.

INFLORESCENCE

Lastingness of the bloom: Initial flower lasts about 9 days at 18° C.,umbel lasts about 16 days.

Fragrance: None.

Umbel:

Shape.—Semi-spherical, relatively small and compact.

Average diameter.—80 mm.

Average depth.—45 mm.

Peduncle length.—118 mm.

Peduncle color.—Light green, RHS 143 C to 144 A, no anthocyanin.

Pedicel length.—17.5 mm, without spur.

Pedicel color.—Grass-green, about RHS 143 A.

Number of flowers per umbel.—Approximately 11-13.

Corolla:

Average diameter.—40 mm.

Average depth.—About 21-23 mm.

Form.—Double.

Shape.—Round, young flowers are rose-bud- or bell-shaped.

Number of petals.—38-40.

Size.—Outer petals are about 25-27 mm long and 14-16 mm wide; innerpetals diminish in length but not in width.

Shape.—Outer petals are spatulate with attenuate base, upper endrounded; inner petals are obovate, with rounded tips and attenuate base;margins are mostly entire with occasional small notch at the tip of thepetal.

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).—Medium (true)red.

Color of upper petals.—RHS 46 B.

Markings of upper petals.—Weak dark-purple veins. RHS 187 B, not visiblein the photograph.

Color of lower petals.—RHS 46 B.

Color of lower surface of petals.—RHS 46 B to 46 C (margin), center ofpetal whitish, RHS 49 D.

Color of sepals.—Upper surface grass-green, RHS 143 A; lower surfacelight green, RHS 143 C no anthocyanin.

Size of sepals.—Length 10-12 mm; width 4 mm for largest, upper sepal;2-3 mm in width for other sepals.

Shape of sepals.—Linearis to lanceolate; acute tip; truncate base;surface with weak, short pubescence; margin entire.

Number of sepals.—6-8.

Bud: (just prior to petals unfolding):

Shape.—Nearly round, bell-shaped.

Color (lower part — sepals).—Grass-green, RHS 143 A.

Color (upper part — petals).—Cream-colored, RHS 49 D, with red marginRHS 46 C.

Length.—17 mm.

Width.—13 mm.

Reproductive organs:

Androecium.—No anthers, no pollen.

Gynoecium.—No pistil observed.

Fertility/seed set.—None observed to date.

Spring flowering response period: In Hillscheid, Germany, in 2000,plants had on average 1.0 flowers opened 12 weeks after planting ofrooted cuttings (pinched plants).

Outdoor flower production: Rich and continuously flowering, the flowercount in Hillscheid, Germany, indicated about 6-7 inflorescence perplant in mid-May.

Durability: Good shatter resistance, rain resistance fair for this typeof flower (dense, multi-petaled), good stability of flower color.

Pest/disease resistance/susceptibility: Relatively good tolerance tobotrytis.

PLANT

Foliage:

Shape.—Ivy-shaped with distinct lobes with rounded tips, with cordateshaped base.

Margin.—Mainly entire, single notches near the tips of lobes.

Texture.—Slightly glossy surface.

Size of leaf.—89 mm wide, 55 mm long.

Color of upper surface.—Medium green, approximately RHS137 B.

Color of lower surface.—Near RHS 137 D.

Petioles.—50-60 mm long; 2-3 mm diameter; color about RHS 143 C.

Color of zonation.—Brown, RHS 166 A, forming a weak, narrow ring.

General appearance and form:

Internode length.—30-35 mm.

Branching pattern.—6.5 branches.

Length of branches.—47.2 cm for 15 week old plants in Langley, Canada,about 85 cm in mid-September in Hillscheid, Germany 31 weeks old(branches measured from the soil level to the tips of the brancheswithout inflorescences).

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named‘Fisbilred’, as described and illustrated.